Overhead cable traction



y (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

W. G. BERG.

OVERHEAD CABLE TRACTION.

No. 519,561. Patented May 8, 18 94.

ATTORNEYS.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2..

W. G. BERG.

OVERHEAD CABLE TRACTION.

No. 519,561. Patented May, 8, 1894.

INVENTOR A QTTOHNEYS.

v UNITED STATES I PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER G. BERG, OF NEW YORK, N.Y.

. OVERH EAD-CABLE TRACTION.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No 19,561, dated May 8, 1 894.

Application filed November 11, 1893. 7 Serial No. 490,630. (No model.)

T0 or whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WALTER, G. BERG, of

r the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Overhead-Oable traction, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved overhead cable traction, which is simple anddurable in construction, and designed for propelling cars and other vehicles in warehouses, mines, on wharves and other places, for conveniently and rapidly transporting per'sons, merchandise and other articles from one place to another.

The invention consists of certain parts and details, and combinations of the same, as will be hereinafter described and then pointed out in the claim.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar'letters of reference'indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of the improvement. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the same on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3

is a side elevation of the improvement with parts in section and as arranged for mines.

Fig. 4. is a like view of the improvement as arranged for warehouses to propel the load from one floor to another and along said floors. Figs. 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 are enlarged cross sectional views on line 5-5 Fig. 4: of various forms of hangers employed in connection with the improvement. Fig. 10 is a cross section showing a chain belt instead of a cable, as the moving power, the section being taken on the line 10.-10 of Fig. 11; and Fig. 11 is a longitudinal section of the same on the line llll of Fig. 10.

The improved overhead cable traction, as illustrated in Fig. 1, is provided with an endless cable A, passing around grooved wheels at the ends of the track, one or both Wheels being turned by suitable machinery to impart a traveling motion to the said cable. The cable A is supported between the end wheels by series of hangers or arms B, placed suitable distances apart and rigidly connected with the cable A. Each hangerB carries a grooved pulley or Wheel 0, traveling on an overhead track rail D, made continuous and supported by brackets E, placed suitable distances apart and attached tothe ceiling or flexible connecting device G, with the vehicle H, tobe propelled over the ground, floor or separate track, to carry persons, merchandise or other articles from one place to another. The said connecting device consists of two detachably connected partsone of which is secured to the vehicle and the other to the cable or chain.

As shown in Fig. l, the chain G is provided with a hook adapted to hook on the hanger B, and the chain is also provided with a throwoff lever or hook or other suitable device (l to readily disconnect the upper part of the chain whenever desired, at the time the vehicle H is at its destination.

As illustrated in Fig. 3, the cable A, is supported on hangers B, having two grooved wheels 0, traveling on the-overhead track D, supported by brackets E, from the roof F, of a mine, tunnel, &c. In this case the front car H, traveling on the track I, is connected by a link G, with the cable A, in front of the hanger B, so that the latter with the cable moving forward propels the car forward on the track I.

As illustrated in Fig. 4, the device is especially designed for warehouses in Which the load is to be transported from one floor to another and along said floors. In this case I prefer to make the track D in the shape of a duct or channel, as plainly shown in Fig. 5,

in which travel the wheels 0 journaled on the hangers B at opposite sides thereof,the said hangers depending downward through the slot in the channel to carry at its lower end the cable A The track D is supported on brackets E from the ceiling F of the warehouse, as will be readily understood by reference to Fig. 4. The chain or rope G connects-the hanger B with the vehicle H traveling on the floor and over an incline from one fioor to another.

The chain or rope G is provided with a throw-off lever or book or other suitable device G to allow said chain or rope to be released at will or while under strain.

In order to prevent the grooved pulleys or Wheels from leaving the track, the top of the channel D is closed to the upper edge of the ICO wheels, as will be readily seen in Fig. 5; and for the same purpose the wheel 0 as shown in Fig. 6, may travel between two rails D held on the bracket E The wheel 0 carries the usual hanger B attached to the endless traveling cable A As shown in Fig. 7 two parallel rails D are supported on oppositely-arranged brackets E attached to the support F ,and on the two rails travel the grooved wheels 0 journaled on the upper end of the hanger B attached to the cable A. An iron plate J, attached to the support F immediately above the Wheels 0 is preferably introduced to prevent the said wheels from leaving the track and reducing thereby the resulting friction, when such a tendency exists.

The track D as illustrated in Fig. 8, is made in the shape of an I-beam, the wheels 0* traveling on the upper surface of thebase of the said I-beam and the said wheels are journaled in the forked upper end of ahanger B attached to the cable A .As illustrated in Fig. 9, the cable. .A is above thetrack D and pulleys C by extending the hanger B upward and inward, so as to bring the cable close to the overhead support F The lower end of the hanger B is provided in this case with a hook G, for connection with a chain leading to the vehicle to be propelled.

In Fig. 9 is also shown a horizontal roller or wheel K on the hanger B, the function of said roller being to reduce the friction of the edges of the track D on the hangerB, whenever a tendency exists for the said hanger to rub along the edges of said track, it being understood that the said roller or wheel K is equally applicable in the devices shown in Figs. 5, 7 and 10.

As illustrated in Figs. 10 and 11, a chain belt A instead of a cable is employed, and in this case I prefer to provide the chain belt with rollers or wheels C travelingon a track D held on brackets E attached to the overhead support F The chain belt A is provided with depending hooksG forconnection with a chain leading to the vehicleto be propelled forward. It is understood that the rollers G greatly reduce the friction of the traveling chain belt, which friction would otherwise cause considerable loss of power in imparting movement of the chain belt traveling directly on a fixed track. An iron plate J attached to the support F immediately above the wheels 0 is preferably introduced the said plate J, being for the same purpose as the plate J above referred to.

It is understood that I do not limit myself to any especial construction or form of track, hanger, wheels or overhead support, as the same may be varied accordingto the requirements.

I am aware that it is' not new to employ an overhead traveling cable forsupporting and transferring vessels, boxes, cages andthelike, and my overhead system isfor propelling vehicles traveling on theground or ontraeks, but not for supporting their weight and carrying thesame from one place to another.

Having thus fully described my invention, I clainras new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- A system of overheadcable traction,- comprising an overhead fixed track, hangers-provided with wheelsadapted to travel on the said track, an endless traveling cable or chain rigidly connected to the hangers, and a flexible connection between the said cable or chain and a vehicle traveling 011 the ground or on a track, one part of thesaid connection be ing secured to the vehicle, and the other to the cable or chain, and the two parts being provided with means for detachably connecting them, substantially as described.

THEO. G. IIOSTER, EDGAR TATE. 

